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“A Dea for the Boles.” 
By the Rey. A. C. Smita. 
[Read before the Society at the Anuual Meeting at Devizes, September, 1874] 
SWAN the first paper on the natural history of the county which 
ei R) I read before the Society at its first meeting in 1853 at 
Devizes, I expressed a hope that the inauguration of this and other 
kindred societies might not only be the dawn of a happier era of 
kindness towards the whole animal creation, and that the system of 
wanton persecution of God’s creatures, hitherto unhappily so much 
practised in this country, and especially amongst the uneducated 
classes, might receive a timely check from the remonstrances of 
those who compose this Society ; but also that the systematic per- 
secution of certain species of animals, oftentimes prompted by igno- 
rance of the true habits of the animal so persecuted, might be done 
away, by dispelling many erroneous fictions respecting the furred 
and feathered tribes, then so generally rife; and by diffusing more 
correct information regarding their economy, their habits, and their 
usefulness to man. 
During the twenty-one years which have elapsed since the forma- 
tion of this Natural History Society, we have from time to time 
endeavoured to disperse some of the fictions, and to substitute true 
histories of some of the species of living creatures we have yet 
touched upon. But a very great deal in this direction yet remains 
to be done: and when in furtherance of this intention I, twelve 
years ago, read a paper before the Society at Malmesbury, on the 
better preservation of a race of birds, against which a wholesale 
crusade of extermination was being then in some districts practised, 
and which I entitled “A plea for the Rooks,” I promised that at 
some future day I would follow it up with another paper of apology 
for no less injured, no less harmless, no less valuable a quadruped, ~ 
viz., the “ Mole; ” a promise, which, though postponed much longer 
than I intended, I desire now to redeem. 

